Auckland and Canterbury Re-emerge as Futsal Champions

The 2025 National Tertiary Futsal Championships were hosted at Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North from 26–28 July, bringing together seven men’s and six women’s university futsal teams from across Aotearoa. The tournament featured three days of fast-paced action and showcased the growing depth of futsal talent within the tertiary sector.

Men’s Competition

The University of Canterbury claimed the men’s championship title, reclaiming the title they last held in 2023 by overcoming the University of Auckland in the final. Defending champions Victoria University of Wellington secured the bronze medal with a strong performance against the University of Otago in the 3^rd place playoff, winning 9-2.

Final Placings – Men

1. University of Canterbury
2. University of Auckland
3. Victoria University of Wellington
4. University of Otago
5. University of Waikato
6. Massey University
7. AUT

Women’s Competition

The University of Auckland emerged as champions in the women’s competition, capping a strong tournament by defeating the University of Otago in the final. AUT earned third place following a competitive campaign where all of their games finished within a 2-goal margin, with the University of Waikato finishing fourth.

Final Placings – Women

1. University of Auckland
2. University of Otago
3. AUT
4. University of Waikato
5. University of Canterbury
6. Massey University

The Spirit Award was presented to the University of Otago men’s team, who were recognised by the participating teams for their supportive and competitive nature. With Canterbury lifting the men’s trophy and Auckland taking out the women’s title, the event once again underlined the strength of university futsal and its role in fostering high-performance pathways.

Congratulations to all of the event’s awards winners for an outstanding 3 days of futsal in Palmerston North. You can re-watch all of the action that played out on court 1 over on UTSNZ TV.